Whoopi Goldberg revealed she feels “lucky to be alive” and told fans it’s a “privilege” to be getting older as she celebrated her 68th birthday on The View following a series of recent health issues.
The Academy Award winner also referenced her late brother Clyde, who died of a brain aneurysm in May 2015, and said she celebrates every year “for all those people” who haven’t reached their 60s yet.
“It’s important because I’m lucky to have reached this age because I outlived my brother,” she said. “I’m older than my brother was (when he died), and I just feel like I need to celebrate and have a good time for all those people who couldn’t come here.”
Her co-host Ana Navarro said the Sister Act star was “looking great” and praised her for overcoming her health problems.
Whoopi Goldberg has admitted she feels ‘lucky to be alive’ and said it is a ‘privilege’ to be getting older as she turned 68 on Monday
The Sister Act star was referring to her older brother Clyde, who sadly died aged 66 from a brain aneurysm in May 2015
Ana Navarro praised Whoopi for “looking good” and “doing well” after her health scare
“You’ve had such a hard time, haven’t you? Health-wise, it’s been a very challenging few years and to see you looking so good, feeling so good and doing so well, it’s just really remarkable… don’t take it for granted,” the 51- year old said.
Whoopi responded, “I’m glad I’m alive, y’all! I’m happy to be here. You know, age is really… it’s going to happen if you’re lucky, you get to do it. When it happens, it’s a privilege.’
The actress was diagnosed with double pneumonia and sepsis in February 2019, with doctors telling her she had a 30 percent chance of dying.
Whoopi had a drainage catheter placed to continuously remove the fluid in the space between her lungs and chest wall, and was forced to take a six-week break from hosting The View.
She has also tested positive for COVID three times, most recently in September, forcing her to miss the season premiere.
Whoopi’s birthday comes four weeks after what would have been her brother’s 75th. She marked the date with a tribute on Instagram, sharing a black and white photo of the couple.
“Today is my big brother Clyde’s birthday and I miss him,” she wrote on October 17. “Congratulations bro!”
On Monday’s show, she received a Willy Wonka-inspired cake and bottles of prosecco as the panel celebrated ‘Whoopi’s Favorite Things’.
Whoopi wanted to celebrate and mark the occasion for ‘all those people who weren’t there’
The View panel fully embraced Whoopi’s special day and even received live broadcast gifts
Whoopi, pictured here in 2019, has battled several health issues in recent years, including pneumonia and sepsis
After wrapping up the festivities, the ladies discussed 62-year-old model Carol Alt, who recently revealed to DailyMail.com that she has decided to join OnlyFans.
Whoopi asked the ladies if posting sexy images online made them think, but Sara Haines, 46, wasn’t a fan, telling her cohosts, “She was a supermodel… things I couldn’t do in my life , so I think I’m going to skip this part because the things I want to do when I get older are scuba diving and being covered from head to toe in a wet suit… anything that covers this body, I’m here for!’
Sunny Hostin added, “I think it’s great for her! If you love it, then I think it’s great for you, and I think it will make a lot of people feel like they can do that, because I’m 55. now, and in this business in particular – and in many companies – every woman over 50 is dead, you know?
‘They would like you to think that, and I feel more alive now than ever, and that’s not the case that she does that, but I love that she does that.”
Ana said:I really like the part where she said this is the first time in her life where she owns her career, where she has a say in the photos that are chosen, the photographer that is chosen.
‘I was amazed at how much money you can make with this!’
Sunny added, “Oh, it’s juicy!”
The panel then joked that Whoopi could also sign up to OnlyFans and pose with a prosecco bottle.
Model Carol Alt recently revealed that she has decided to join OnlyFans at the age of 62
On Monday, Carol posted her first photo to OnlyFans, where she looked stunning in a Playboy-esque outfit with a low-cut black corset, white cuffs and a matching collar.
The blue-eyed star wore her dark hair in a bun and completed the look with black earrings and gold glitter eyeshadow as she covered her cleavage with her right arm.
Speaking about her decision to join the subscription service, Carol told DailyMail.com: ‘Life is about being an outsider. Life experience is a powerful tool when channeled properly.
“Only Fans is the next generation of monetized content. It’s important that you own your own content. Platforms like these are the future. Always move with the times.’